Indonesia Review

Ashley and I very much enjoyed Indonesia. It is probably our favorite out of all the Southeast Asian countries that we visited. It fit what we were looking for perfectly and gave a little extra as well. It is definitely in the top three countries we've visited on this excursion.

One of the main reasons I found Indonesia so pleasant was that it is a good mix of freedoms versus development/infrastructure. The roads are developed and mostly safe but you can drive a scooter with a surfboard strapped to the side around without being in breach of safety laws. Don't get me wrong I think that safety laws are important but it is nice to experience personal responsibility as opposed to third party regulation. It is what allures us to travel; to feel the breeze while sitting on top of the bus instead of being regulated to be inside it. It is important to note that it is taking a risk as every year there are stories of unfortunate tourists perishing in their acts of freedom.

Indonesia is one of the more inexpensive countries. A good meal can be purchased for under $2 and other expenses such as hostels and transportation are not overwhelming as in some other countries. This is good for us as we near the end of our trip and the end of our funds.

Indonesia has delicious food. We were very pleased with the variety of dishes and their deliciousness. I never thought I would crave rice but someone when we ordered other foods we always experienced a twinge of sorrow to not be eating the usual dish. Nasi goreng and Nasi Campur (fried rice and mixed rice) were our two favorites. These are the basic, every day meals of the Indonesian people and we definitely learned why. Don't worry though, my love for sandwiches remains steadfast.

Water activities were mainly what there is to do in Indonesia (makes sense considering Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands). Surfing, snorkelling, diving, swimming, and fishing are main activities. I am happy for the water because it gave some relief to the heat. One highlight for us is that we were able to see and swim with a turtle while snorkelling. We watched it forever while it slowly swam and ate but it was a lot of fun to see.

There is only one thing that I regret about Indonesia; we did not get the chance to go to Komodo island. I had no idea it was part of Indonesia and it would have been amazing to see but unfortunately factors such as distance and timing came into play. It would have been fascinating to see the island and the dragons but I suppose National Geographic will have to be good enough me.

Overall Indonesia was the most affordable, relaxed, and diverse of the SEA countries we've visited. The people were always friendly and helpful and there was always something interesting to see and do. There was also plenty of opportunity to take a day for relaxing, reading, and laying in the sun (if that's what you're into).